Parents' Guide to Tiny House Nation

TV fyi Reality TV 2014
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Common Sense Media Review

Melissa Camacho By Melissa Camacho , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 9+

Tiny-home-building reality show has eco-friendly message.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 9+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 8+

Based on 4 parent reviews

age 9+

Based on 1 kid review

What's the Story?

TINY HOUSE NATION is a reality show about the inventive ways people are building and living in their mini-dream homes. Renovation experts John Weisbarth and Zack Giffin travel across the U.S. to help people looking to move their large space-reliant lives into homes with very limited square footage. From a house that can accommodate two people (and lots of birds) to converting a train car into a livable space, the duo shows how different spaces can be built to accommodate a comfortable lifestyle. At the end of each episode, viewers are given a chance to see how the tiny-house owners are adapting to their new homes.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 4 ):
Kids say ( 1 ):

The show explores the tiny house "movement," which involves a commitment to green living in small spaces with some inventiveness and a willingness to let go of most material goods. Meanwhile, the hosts show how good design, creative thinking, and, when possible, repurposing are central to making the most of every square inch of space without making a home feel constrictively small.

Tips on how to make the most of any space, including using lots of natural light, specific paint colors, and items that serve multiple purposes, are useful regardless of the size of your home. But the message this show sends about how little space and few possessions we really need to live comfortable lives is a positive one.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether they could see themselves in a tiny house. What would it look like inside? What kind of changes would you have to make to live in it comfortably? What would be some advantages of living in it? Disadvantages? Does this reality series address the pros and cons of tiny-house living?

  • Why do you think some people want to live in a house that's too big for them? Is it a status symbol as much as a shelter? Is living in a tiny house just as extreme?

TV Details

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